DIY bridal sash

When it comes to weddings, everything is more expensive. Don't believe me? Call up a car rental company and tell them you need a limo. Get a price. Then tell them it's for a wedding. Watch how that price inflates. (Presumably for a bottle of champagne and some glasses. I don't know about you, but I can bring my own bottle, thankyouverymuch!)

No where is wedding inflation more abundant than in the fashion end of things. Eight dollars for a foot of tulle? Call it a veil and you'll have to try $800! So when my bridal consultant dressed me in a sash, I fell in love with the look in the mirror, but steeled myself for a harsh reality. And I wasn't disappointed. The ribbon sash with a removeable crystal brooch that transformed my dress into something stunning cost a jaw-dropping $600.

No, ma'am. Not on my watch.

So I did what any reasonable woman with a sewing machine would do. I made it myself.

The first thing I did was pick up a sash from Jessica McClintock. At $30 it was overpriced, but something I could live with. If you can't, just go get some /8" satin ribbon. In hindsight, that's what I wished I'd done. My sash was too wide, so I ended up having to sew it into a tube to halve the width.

Then I picked out a classic looking brooch from a mall kiosk, pinned and stitched it in place, and tied a pretty bow in the back. All in all, it took about 15 minutes to make, and saved me more than $550. Not bad, huh?

It's a ridiculous photo, but you can see me in all of my DIY glory here:

And that, friends, was the simplest money saver of my big day. The other projects I did either took more time, or had a lower return on investment. I definitely recommend DIYing this bad boy!